By Ferd Lewis
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 16, 2013
LAST UPDATED: 06:44 a.m. HST, Jan 16, 2013
STAR-ADVERTISER / 2004
Musashimaru performed his last ring ceremony during his retirement ceremony on Oct. 2, 2004.
Even for someone who is 6 feet, 3 inches and 320 pounds, what Fiamalu Penitani embarks upon in the next stage of his sumo career is considered a big step.
The former Waianae High football player, who gained fame and fortune as grand champion Musashimaru, will become the second foreign-born sumotori to open his own stable in Japan's centuries-old national sport and plans a Hawaii presence.
"I can't wait to get going," Penitani said by phone following a training session at the Fujishima stable in Tokyo, where he coaches.
The 41-year-old Penitani, who competed for the Musashigawa stable from 1989 until 2003, will take over the rights to the Musashigawa name Feb. 4 when the current owner, the former Mienoumi, retires.
"It is a very big move and a prestigious (stable name)," said Jesse Kuhaulua, who, as Azumazeki, became the first foreign-born stable operator in 1986. Kuhaulua, who coached Akebono (Hawaii's Chad Rowan), retired in 2009 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.
Penitani, who followed Akebono as the second foreign yokozuna in 1999, said he will lease and renovate another stable property on the outskirts of the Ryogoku sumo district to house and train his understudies. Penitani and his wife will live on the top floor of the three-story building, with the sumotori on the second floor. The bottom floor will be for training. He said he hopes to have the stable operating by summer.
Penitani said he has already recruited three prospects, "and I need to get one more before I get started."
They include a nephew, Fiamalu "Mamu" Penitani, a 2011 Waianae High graduate. The nephew, who is 6-3 and 308 pounds, was an offensive lineman for the Seariders. He has been training in Japan for about six months.
Musashimaru debuted in 1989 amid the so-called "Hawaii boom," during which more than 20 sumotori from the islands competed in Japan. There have not been any active sumotori from Hawaii since 2003 and the ruling Japan Sumo Association now has a cap on foreigners, with one permitted per stable.
Originally upon retirement Penitani, like other eligible sumotori from Hawaii — Akebono, Konishiki (Salevaa Atisanoe) and Yamato (George Kalima) — had little interest in opening his own stable. But, in time, he said, "I began to think that since I'm going to live here, I might as well try it."
Penitani said he talked to Kuhaulua about stable ownership "and he told me, ‘Ganbatte (go for it)!' "
Musashigawa-beya 4-27-1 Higashi-Nippori Arakawa-ku, Tokyo
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Input on Musashimaru from Sumo World
"Yes, Musashimaru is opening his own heya. When Musashigawa reaches 65, he will acquire his kabu (he was the most successful deshi of ex-Mienoumi) and will open his own new Musashigawa Beya. In addition to his nephew from Hawaii, he is also trying to scout some Japanese deshi" - Sumo World editor
Fia opens stable, gets his 17 year old nephew into sumo!
"Ex-Musashimaru has become the second foreign-born Oyakata to have his own heya. He is re-establishing Musashigawa beya and will assume the name on February 4th upon the current Oyakata's retirement. His 17-year-old nephew whom he has been schooling will join him there as well. He will attempt to recruit new deshi. The heya will be established on the current Nakamura beya premises. Nakamura has closed down as the Oyakata will retire on February 9th-all deshi will move to Azumazeki beya tomorrow. 1 gyoji-to Hakkaku. If everything goes as planned, deshi from the renewed Musashigawa will appear on the dohyo come March basho 2013." - credit to Kintamayama for this post on sumo forum.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Behind the Curtain - Jan 2013
Tamanoi beya's Azumaryu at Makushita 1 West notched a very impressive 6-1 record at Kyushu to earn his first trip to the paid division. He tore through these first 3 bouts of the Kyushu tourney, going 3-0, ironically beating his countryman, and one of the other 2 stepping out from behind the curtain, Kagamio, with very strong uwatenage.
This rising star was noted by Mark Buckton back on January 8, 2011, in the Japan Times Online. Mark selected Azumaryu to as the rikishi to watch in 2011, and by reaching the Juryo rank, Azumaryu proved Mark correct, a little late, but correct none the less.
"And, of course, the up-and-comer to watch for in 2011 - Azumaryu Tsuyoshi - from Tamanoi Beya. Aged 23, ranked higher than the yokozuna at the same point in his own illustrious career, he is a Mongolian from the same town as Hakuho, and one set to benefit from the expertise of his stable master, former ozeki Tochiazuma - the last Japanese to win a yusho."
That is a pretty high bar, comparing young Azumaryu to one of the current Mongolian Yokozuna, Hakuho. And this writer is somewhat partial to the point that the last Japanese yusho was from Azumaryu oyakata, former ozeki Tochiazuma, which occurred 7 years ago at the same Hatsu basho at Kokugikan, January 2006.
Azumaryu is joining his stable's fellow sekitori, Fujiazuma, and Yoshiazuma, in front of the curtain this basho.
Kagamiyama beya's Kagamio at Makushita 4 West slipped into paid ranks with a 4-3 record the last basho. Kagamiyama beya as a grand total of 2 rikishi, Kagamio and the oyakata's son, Ryusei. Kamagio's tsukebito will need to come from another stable. With only 2 rikishi, Kamagio will continue to perform sumotori duties at this stable, like washing clothes and cleaning the toilet.
This is Kagamio's first time in front of the curtain. Unlike Azumaryu, who is breaking Hakuho records in raising up the ranks, Kagamio has been at for almost 10 years, with his debut in sumo back in July 2003!
Sakaigawa beya's Shironoryu at Makushita 3 East earn his kachikoshi with a 4-3 record in November. It was reported that Kagamio was singing Hakkeyoi the whole evening after finding out of his promotion to Juryo. He is only 179 cm tall and 115.2 kg big, so he isn't a large sekitori, but he has great technique, which as we all know, can make up for size.
This is Kagamio's first time in front of the curtain. Unlike Azumaryu, who is breaking Hakuho records in raising up the ranks, Kagamio has been at for almost 10 years, with his debut in sumo back in July 2003!
Sakaigawa beya's Shironoryu at Makushita 3 East earn his kachikoshi with a 4-3 record in November. It was reported that Kagamio was singing Hakkeyoi the whole evening after finding out of his promotion to Juryo. He is only 179 cm tall and 115.2 kg big, so he isn't a large sekitori, but he has great technique, which as we all know, can make up for size.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Behind the Curtain - Nov 2012
It is November, taking us to our last basho of the year, at the lovely Fukuoka Kokusai Center. This basho will not only be the first for the 70th Yokozuna, but it is also the first basho for one newly promoted sekiori. Along with the new juryo rikishi, four other rikishi are returning to the 2nd division from behind the curtain.
Our lucky debut sekitori is Ryuden. He is also the first sekitori from Takadagawa stable. He is also the first sekitori raised by ex-Sekiwake Akinoshima. He is the first sekitori from Yamanashi prefecture in the last 22 years. Both the new sekitori and the oyakata had some interesting thoughts to share after the announcement.
Ryuden started out, "As soon as I heard of the promotion, the excitement of it all began to hit me. I hope to be able to reach the Makuuchi division in two or three basho." Ryuden has already figured out where he can borrow a silk mawashi, which the only sekitori may wear. He has been Kisenosato's tsukebito, and believes he can borrow some red mawashi from his senpai.
Kyokushuho from Mongolia started 2012 in the Makuuchi, found himself in Makushita for the Aki Basho, and can end 2012 as a sekitori again. Kyokushuho was originally a rikishi at the Mongolia sumotori factory, Oshima beya, which merged with Tomozuna beya. With his return to Juryo, he joins his stablemates Kaisei, Kyokutenho (one of the original 6 Mongolians) and Asahisho.
Masakaze spent half of 2012 in the paid ranks. He was promoted to Juryo at the Natsu Basho in May but fell back behind the curtain for the Aki Basho. In September unfortunately, his stableman, Kimikaze only won 3 bouts in Juryo, so in essence, these two are trading places, one behind the curtain, one into the paid ranks. Ogurama oyakata will still only have 3 sekitori at Fukuoka; Masakaze, Takekaze, and Yoshikaze. And yes, the Ogurama oyakata is former Ozeki Kotokaze, hence all the wind in these rikishi's names.
Homarefuji will have spent 4 out of 6 of the 2012 bash in the paid ranks. He started 2012 at the Hatsu basho as a first-time sekitori and he has fought his way back to sekitori to end 2012. This is icing on the cake for former Yokozuna Asahifuji and current Isegahama oyakata since he not only has 4 sekitori, but he has the new 70th Yokozuna, Haramafuji It has been an exceptional year for Isegahama oyakata and his stable, along with their supporters.
Finally, we have our last returnee, Akiseyama. He first appeared in front of the curtain way back in November of 2010, followed by 3 consecutive appearances in Juryo, until he fell back to Makushita for the September 2011 tourney. This November he finally gets to wear the silk mawashi again. It looks like former Maegashira #1 Higonoumi and current Kise oyakata will have a total of 5 sekitori, since his lowest ranked sekitori, Tokushinho, did just get 7 wins at Juryo 12, to most likely just barely stayed ranked in the paid division.
Our lucky debut sekitori is Ryuden. He is also the first sekitori from Takadagawa stable. He is also the first sekitori raised by ex-Sekiwake Akinoshima. He is the first sekitori from Yamanashi prefecture in the last 22 years. Both the new sekitori and the oyakata had some interesting thoughts to share after the announcement.
Ryuden started out, "As soon as I heard of the promotion, the excitement of it all began to hit me. I hope to be able to reach the Makuuchi division in two or three basho." Ryuden has already figured out where he can borrow a silk mawashi, which the only sekitori may wear. He has been Kisenosato's tsukebito, and believes he can borrow some red mawashi from his senpai.
Kyokushuho from Mongolia started 2012 in the Makuuchi, found himself in Makushita for the Aki Basho, and can end 2012 as a sekitori again. Kyokushuho was originally a rikishi at the Mongolia sumotori factory, Oshima beya, which merged with Tomozuna beya. With his return to Juryo, he joins his stablemates Kaisei, Kyokutenho (one of the original 6 Mongolians) and Asahisho.
Masakaze spent half of 2012 in the paid ranks. He was promoted to Juryo at the Natsu Basho in May but fell back behind the curtain for the Aki Basho. In September unfortunately, his stableman, Kimikaze only won 3 bouts in Juryo, so in essence, these two are trading places, one behind the curtain, one into the paid ranks. Ogurama oyakata will still only have 3 sekitori at Fukuoka; Masakaze, Takekaze, and Yoshikaze. And yes, the Ogurama oyakata is former Ozeki Kotokaze, hence all the wind in these rikishi's names.
Homarefuji will have spent 4 out of 6 of the 2012 bash in the paid ranks. He started 2012 at the Hatsu basho as a first-time sekitori and he has fought his way back to sekitori to end 2012. This is icing on the cake for former Yokozuna Asahifuji and current Isegahama oyakata since he not only has 4 sekitori, but he has the new 70th Yokozuna, Haramafuji It has been an exceptional year for Isegahama oyakata and his stable, along with their supporters.
Finally, we have our last returnee, Akiseyama. He first appeared in front of the curtain way back in November of 2010, followed by 3 consecutive appearances in Juryo, until he fell back to Makushita for the September 2011 tourney. This November he finally gets to wear the silk mawashi again. It looks like former Maegashira #1 Higonoumi and current Kise oyakata will have a total of 5 sekitori, since his lowest ranked sekitori, Tokushinho, did just get 7 wins at Juryo 12, to most likely just barely stayed ranked in the paid division.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
March 2011 Osaka Basho Canceled
Due to the Japanese National Police uncovering message between gambling wrestlers, exposing them to fixing matches between themselves and others, the Japan Sumo Association has canceled the upcoming tournament. Fixing bouts are referred to has "yaocho" in Japanese.
To clean house and give sumo a fresh start, I propose that they demote all sekitori to Sandanme, let all the sumotori get ranked in Maegashira and Juryo, no Sanyaku ranks, and use that banzuke for May. Yokozuna Hakuho should resign and also accept the responsibility of the "yaocho".
Many of the ex-sekitori would quickly rise up the ranks and again, while the newly promoted sekitori would drop down quickly. This would serve as punishment to all sekitori, whether they participated in "yaocho" or not.
In additional, perhaps the JSA would have sample lie detector tests during a tourney, to ask a wrestler if he performed "yaocho" or not.
To clean house and give sumo a fresh start, I propose that they demote all sekitori to Sandanme, let all the sumotori get ranked in Maegashira and Juryo, no Sanyaku ranks, and use that banzuke for May. Yokozuna Hakuho should resign and also accept the responsibility of the "yaocho".
Many of the ex-sekitori would quickly rise up the ranks and again, while the newly promoted sekitori would drop down quickly. This would serve as punishment to all sekitori, whether they participated in "yaocho" or not.
In additional, perhaps the JSA would have sample lie detector tests during a tourney, to ask a wrestler if he performed "yaocho" or not.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Behind the Curtain - July 2010
The summer heat is growing every day which means that it's time for the beach and time to take the bullet train down to Nagoya for the Nagoya Basho. This hot summer tourney we have two men stepping out from behind the curtain, along with two other reappearing in the paid ranks.
Fighting at Makushita #2 East, Kaisei notched a nifty record of 5-2 at the Natsu basho to earn his silk mawashi this tournament. Kaisei is a 23-year-old Brazilian, who is 3rd generation Japanese and fights for Tomozuna stable. He is the fourth Brazilian to make the paid ranks.
Battling at Makushita #5 East, Sadanoumi recorded 5-2 to get promoted. He is another 23-year-old and is the son of former Komusubi Sadanoumi. When he heard that he was going to be shin-juryo at Nagoya, "My body started to shake! I wanted to become ana rikishi since I was 4." Sadanoumi has been trying very hard from the beginning of his sumo career, to gain weight, eventually adding 40 kilos to his frame. Every evening and night he trained alone with weights, never missing a session, and the fact that it finally brought about a result has him very happy and proud.
Listed the last tourney at Makushita #1 East, Masuraumi squeezed back to Juryo with a 4-3 result at Tokyo. He is 21-year-old and belongs to Onomatsu stable. You may recall from our March article, he is an undersized wrester, who failed the first physical exam cause he was too short but passed the newly created secondary physical exam. This year, his two Juryo tournaments have resulted in a pair of 7-8 records, so he needs just a little bit more effort to pull off his first kachikoshi as a sekitori. This could be the tournament.
Finally, having fought from Makushita #1 West, Hochiyama, posted a respectable 5-2 make a return to the paid ranks. He is 28-years-old from Sakaigawa stable, who has been all the way up to Makuuchi. Hochiyama has been behind the curtain for over two years, clawing his way back up the banzuke. His fall in the ranks was due to diabetes. He got the strength he needed to make a recovery and a run back to the paid ranks from his family back in Aomori and his supporters. They were a key factor in his rehabilitation and return.
With these 4 wrestlers take slots on the banzuke as sekitori, 4 other wrestlers will have to fall back behind the curtain to clear space.
Futeno at Juryo West #12 was 6-3 at the end of day nine but then lost 6 days in a row to end with 6-9 and an appointment with his old white cotton mawashi.
Kirinowaka at Juryo East #13 managed only 2 wins on days eight and nine to post a horrible 2-13 and a ticket to the makushita division.
Kaiho at Juryo West #14 won only 3 times to finish at 3-12 and step behind the curtain for July.
Sadanofuji at Juryo East #14 lost on the final day to Bushuyama to just miss getting his 8th win and will be in the unpaid ranks this summer.
Fighting at Makushita #2 East, Kaisei notched a nifty record of 5-2 at the Natsu basho to earn his silk mawashi this tournament. Kaisei is a 23-year-old Brazilian, who is 3rd generation Japanese and fights for Tomozuna stable. He is the fourth Brazilian to make the paid ranks.
Battling at Makushita #5 East, Sadanoumi recorded 5-2 to get promoted. He is another 23-year-old and is the son of former Komusubi Sadanoumi. When he heard that he was going to be shin-juryo at Nagoya, "My body started to shake! I wanted to become ana rikishi since I was 4." Sadanoumi has been trying very hard from the beginning of his sumo career, to gain weight, eventually adding 40 kilos to his frame. Every evening and night he trained alone with weights, never missing a session, and the fact that it finally brought about a result has him very happy and proud.
Listed the last tourney at Makushita #1 East, Masuraumi squeezed back to Juryo with a 4-3 result at Tokyo. He is 21-year-old and belongs to Onomatsu stable. You may recall from our March article, he is an undersized wrester, who failed the first physical exam cause he was too short but passed the newly created secondary physical exam. This year, his two Juryo tournaments have resulted in a pair of 7-8 records, so he needs just a little bit more effort to pull off his first kachikoshi as a sekitori. This could be the tournament.
Finally, having fought from Makushita #1 West, Hochiyama, posted a respectable 5-2 make a return to the paid ranks. He is 28-years-old from Sakaigawa stable, who has been all the way up to Makuuchi. Hochiyama has been behind the curtain for over two years, clawing his way back up the banzuke. His fall in the ranks was due to diabetes. He got the strength he needed to make a recovery and a run back to the paid ranks from his family back in Aomori and his supporters. They were a key factor in his rehabilitation and return.
With these 4 wrestlers take slots on the banzuke as sekitori, 4 other wrestlers will have to fall back behind the curtain to clear space.
Futeno at Juryo West #12 was 6-3 at the end of day nine but then lost 6 days in a row to end with 6-9 and an appointment with his old white cotton mawashi.
Kirinowaka at Juryo East #13 managed only 2 wins on days eight and nine to post a horrible 2-13 and a ticket to the makushita division.
Kaiho at Juryo West #14 won only 3 times to finish at 3-12 and step behind the curtain for July.
Sadanofuji at Juryo East #14 lost on the final day to Bushuyama to just miss getting his 8th win and will be in the unpaid ranks this summer.
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